Theurge: The necromancer build /witch doctor guide

[Crumbleton]

Hey everyone, this is my first guide here so be nice! A lot of the guides I have read were abusing unintended interactions, or didn't really come into how the build is supposed to be played until later in the game which i found to be super lame.  All the gear and items needed for this build are easily attainable early game, and the build starts out with its identity from lvl 1 so right out the gate you already have the start of your characters identity and it only gets better from then on.  I will also say i am an avid fashion souls / fashion hunter player so looking cool > being completely optimized.  Also some choices were made for ROLE PLAYING PURPOSES since this is a role playing game.  Remember if you want X or you want Y do it, it's your character and if you see your character doing certain things go for it, this is just a rough outline!  You will be casting dots, summoning minions, and just being overall awesome.

 

 

https://imgur.com/a/eBi6OfK  you'll look pretty awesome!  (may have to copy and paste link not sure how to post photos on here)

 

 

Starting with the class selections

 

Druid - subclass - Fury : Now i chose the Fury druid for the bonus penetration for storm spells, i do use relentless storm / returning storm since they're awesome and they're sort of in line with my character concept but not entirely, honestly an animist would probably be the BEST but i did not want to use direct healing casting abilities on my character since it does not fit my concept but if you want heals go for it

 

Chanter - sublcass - Beckoner:  Now this class is a witch doctor / necromancer type so you need some summons to go with it and Beckoner provides the most minions so this was an easy choice!  BUT if you hate those mini minions (can't blame you!) Choose troubador it's great and bonus linger time will provide great support for your summons and team, but i would say pick beckoner.

 

Race:  What ever you like!  I chose a male pale elf with head #3 because it gives you red eyes, you're pale and skinny which is typical for a necromancer (the one i think of at least!)  but choose what ever you'd like to role play as!  Maybe you want to be a Dwarf witch doctor?  That's cool this build can help you look and feel like one!

 

Stats

 

MIG: Max  might, the build focuses a lot of self sustain + spell damage is hard to come by.

 

DEX: Depends!!! now for me i dumped con + res and maxed dex, if i could do it again i'd probably drop a few points from here and put them back in CON so i don't explode nearly as quickly... BUT dex gives you faster spell cast, and your summons / spell cast are fairly long so it's a great stat honestly it depends.  If you wan't to play a squishy caster you can max this and dump con, but if not bring this to like 14 and con 11 or what ever you'd like

 

PER: Max, + ACC for spells is harder to come by and a ton of perception checks are done through the game

 

CON: see dex You can dump this stat, but if you want an easier time do not keep it around 8+

 

INT:  Max int, with beckoner your summons last 50% less so int is really important to have and it makes your Dots last longer which is a nice bonus

 

RES: Dump, unelss you want a more balanced person, honestly it's not that great of a stat from my experience but if you want the early deflection and res checks go for it, does your character have an iron will?  mine doesn't but yours can!

 

Background:  What ever makes sense for your character.

 

 

ABILITIES / TALENTS/ SKILLS:

 

Here we go! remember when i said from lvl 1 we have a character?!

HECK YEAH.

 

For druid your extra spell is TOUCH OF ROT an aoe spell having corrosive damage?   Wow seems in line with the build

 

For your Chanter invocation : If  there bones still slept under the hills:  Dang summoning skeletons already?  Seems pretty ICONIC!

COME COME SOFT WINDS OF, DEATH: for your phrase, woa self healing and something that does damage to people AROUND YOU it's almost like i dont know.... FROM LVL 1 YOU ARE ALREADY SORT OF A NECROMANCER OR SOME ****.

 

Following up with spells like: INSECT SWARM, AUTUMNS DECAY, MAGGOT INFESTATION, SPREADING PLAGUE you're doing a lot of raw / corrosive damage and everything fits in line for the character.

 

While for Chanter you are upgrading your skeletons, grabbing ogre's or what ever summons you may like, i personally LOVE having 4 ogres, just choose what ever you like! The only PHRASE YOU NEED TO HAVE IS ANCIENT MEMORY. That bad boy gives you, your team, and your summons so much healing you'll be like WOA DAWG what was i doing before i got this?

 

ALSO: since you have 2 spell casters chosen you'll have quite a few room to pick up passives typically overlooked, of course grab casting speed, increased healing, increased health per level, or you can grab some more spells to be flexible it's up to you.

 

 

NOW HERE IS THE GEAR SO YOU LOOK LIKE DR DOOM, OR SOME TYPE OF CRAZY WITCH DOCTOR MAN:

 

remember this gear is EASILY ATTAINABLE AT AN EARLY LEVEL so you wont be playing until you're lvl 16 being like OH MY GOD I JUST COMPLETED MY BUILD IT ONLY TOOK ME OVER 20 HOURS BUT LOOK AT IT!  No you'll be able to collect everything fairly easily and look fricken stylish while you do it.

 

 

Helm: https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Cowl_of_the_Piercing_Gaze

 

Cowl of the Piercing Gaze:  This makes you look like Dr Doom, it's awesome, so fricken awesome.  It's +1 perception, religion and insight.  It's honestly not that great but it's really ****ing cool looking.....

- can be gotten from helping some Lady in some horse themed bar in neketaka 

 

 

OTHER OPTION

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Whitewitch_Mask

 

The Whitewitch Mask:  This mask is actually 100% better flavor wise, stat wise, IT IS JUST BETTER FOR THIS BUILD IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY AND YOU CAN GET IT EARLY TOO.   i just don't like it for how it looks on my guy compared to the cowl but honestly sometimes i use it because it looks so ****ing cool but this looks awesome too, but honestly YOU SHOULD USE THIS MASK

-can be gotten from some anime tentacle monster in a shady part of the gullet

 

 

CHEST ARMOUR:

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Effigy%27s_Husk Effigy's

Husk looks  pretty cool with the mask and works for the build but i use....

 

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Cabalist%27s_Gambeson

 

Cabalist Gambeson:  This armor is super awesome, +2 armor against spells and you can get 15% hostile effect reduction, 15% increased buff time, or 15% chance to reflect spells, honestly super flavorful, but mainly this thing looks awesome on your character.

-gotten from some jerk of a wizards house in neketaka

 

 

Rings:

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Ring_of_Greater_Regeneration

 

The ring of greater regeneration, this thing is awesome and goes with all the bonus healing our build has and continues to make you more tanky i love this ring.

-gotten from some fuzzy guy in neketaka who works in cannon fortress

 

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Ring_of_Overseeing

 

Ring of Overseeing, nothing really awesome or great but 10% size on your aoe's and chants is really awesome and can be gotten from beraths special vendor, pretty useful!

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Kuaru%27s_Prize

 

There is also this ring, 10% spell damage, 1 perception and int but i haven't gotten it yet and don't know how early you can get it, but definitely would use this over the Ring of Overseeing.

 

 

Belt:

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/The_Undying_Burden

 

The Undying Burden is awesome, +2 con, reduction to melee damage, AND a you get THIRD WIND!! well a second use of second wind so i think it would technically be third wind?  Still this thing is super awesome since a lot of your spells and chants are shorter range so you want this bad boy 100%.

-gotten from the shady part of the gullet.

 

Cape:

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Mirrorback

 

Mirrorback, looks really cool with your shield, the bonus deflection to ranged attacks is good for ship battles and the ability to reflect spells with your armor too means you are pretty good against other spell casters which is nice. plus is just looks fly as hell.

-gotten from some vendor in neketaka, i beleive it's sold near a holy place or in front of the biggest house in town.

 

Gloves:

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Gauntlets_of_Accuracy_(Deadfire)

+3 ACC and you get these early game after you find your nephew, these things are fairly good and the accuracy is good early game, id probably swap them out for...

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Gauntlets_of_Ogre_Might_(Deadfire)

Gauntlets of Ogre Might:  +2 might pretty straight forward and good for a spell caster and you can get early game.

 

Weapon:

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Gladiator_Sword

 

Probably the first yellow weapon you find after finding your nephew, incredibly cheap to upgrade and you grab it for the skrim which gives you +5 deflection with a shield, it's a nice little defense boost and you find it SUPER EARLY IN GAME.  Honestly for your melee weapon choose a 1h you just like, this looks pretty cool and i like it so it works perfectly for me and this build.

 

Shield: i am underlining this shield, its ****ing amazing and synergizes so well with the rest of this build.

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Lethandria%27s_Devotion

 

Lethandrias Devotion,  Bonus deflection, a healing aura THAT YOU CAN UPGRADE TO BE STRONGER AT NIGHT   which is just so cool from a flavor standpoint, this shield is a must and makes your healing just so much better.

 

 

 

NECK/BOOTS:

 

These are what ever slots for me i'll just post a few things here

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Boots_of_the_Stone

 

boots of stone + dex + resolve +resistance to might pretty fricken good and you can get it from the blessing vendor.

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Wise_Teeth_Necklace

 

+1 int + 1 history + 1 insight you get this early from some wierd pig man.  Not the greatest but i like the + skills.

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Protective_Eothasian_Charm

 

Protective EOTHASIASN Charm:  +1 perception And a really fricken awesome ability that activates when you have low health.  YOU GET THIS THING SUPER EARLY TOO.

 

 

 

So that's it, you can get all these items early, they work well together and your guy is pretty awesome.

 

Hope you all enjoyed!

Edited May 28, 2018 by Crumbleton

[Boeroer]

What?

 

By the way: there's a Witch Doctor build for PoE1 which has nothing to do with necromancy. Just to avoid confusion...

[Crumbleton]

What?

 

By the way: there's a Witch Doctor build for PoE1 which has nothing to do with necromancy. Just to avoid confusion...

oh man i just had to retype the guide, ill do more formatting etc later buy i fixed it up a bit.  I typed it up when i was bored on mobile but i fixed it up here finally!

[Boeroer]

No stress. Looks good!

[Frog Man]

+1 will play this. Awesome theme.

[Crumbleton]

+1 will play this. Awesome theme

glad you liked it, it's a ton of fun!

[Dorftek]

I have always loved evil DoT builds in RPGs, I like ur idea with DoT and HoT stuff with summons to keep the mobs in place while they wither and die. However, in this game as of right now with how little HP the enemies have a monk or a fighter will have already finished painting the battlefield with gib before u have even finished applying all ur DoTs. Hopefully Obsidian will balance this out and if they do I'll play ur build. But without a shield with a quarterstaff instead

[Crumbleton]

Absolutely but I found them rather dull to play currently because of that reason and prior to higher levels they're fairly boring to play =)

[Sciarra Colonna]

Hi dude, thanks for build.

 

I'm doing a build near your but based on ranged attacks. I really don't like necromancer/witch doctor melee. For me, just my opinion, have to be a back caster. But in this way many decay spells are more hard to cast and need a micro management to be useful, especially for chanter auras that have small radius.

 

However i'm trying to use pistols.

 

A thing i can't, really, tolerate are that damn small skeletons! Why obsidian used that lousy skin? Why beckoner have to summon micro skeletons? Are really hideous. Just put same skin with less stats... They seems skeletons of babies... I'm really annoyed by that!

[Crumbleton]

Hi dude, thanks for build.

 

I'm doing a build near your but based on ranged attacks. I really don't like necromancer/witch doctor melee. For me, just my opinion, have to be a back caster. But in this way many decay spells are more hard to cast and need a micro management to be useful, especially for chanter auras that have small radius.

 

However i'm trying to use pistols.

 

A thing i can't, really, tolerate are that damn small skeletons! Why obsidian used that lousy skin? Why beckoner have to summon micro skeletons? Are really hideous. Just put same skin with less stats... They seems skeletons of babies... I'm really annoyed by that!

Yeah I was using a pistol earlier but since I'm mainly casting spells through combat the sword is just for a deflection bonus! The smaler skeletons are useful since they can surround someone and physically take less space. You could always run with a troubador and that would allow you to use an offensive invocation or two. I'm actually thinking about going in and seeing if I can do a beckoner mod to use the normal sized summons.

[Sciarra Colonna]

a mod for normal size sounds awesome! Thanks a lot

 

p.s. i'm trying with a blunderbuss and it is better because his range is lower respect pistol and i have to stay close enemies so my auras work on my friends while i stay in second line.